All law firms want excellent lawyers, and nearly all lawyers think they embody excellence. Is this kind of excellence like pornography, something without definition but clear when seen? Generally, an excellent lawyer is one sought by all clients to handle their matters, one who inspires confidence. This is a person who gets results and who is in frequent communication with clients to let them know how their matters are progressing without untoward surprises. By implication, this suggests that defining excellence is a process of analyzing client reactions. From whom in your firm will your clients prefer to take advice?
In some sense, who has the biggest gross billings and how did they get that way? That may be one solid identifier of who your firm's excellent lawyers are.

There is a corollary here. Some lawyers (especially certain personal injury lawyers in virtually every city who feel compelled to do strident television advertising) seem to feel that the best lawyers are the toughest, that they are rude and obnoxious to their adversaries to show they are in control. Few clients would actually define this as excellence. On the contrary, such behavior often merely entrenches the opposition further, while substantially increasing unnecessary costs for all concerned.
Excellence requires standing forthright to advocate our client's interest, without posturing or seeking an image of dominance or making demands that are totally outrageous and beyond the scope of reality. Again, firm and client alike know the excellent lawyers when they see them.

What if these lawyers are at another firm? My discussions with managing partners at a number of firms suggest that the best performers cannot be lured or stolen away. The more practical strategy is to develop excellent lawyers within the firm. This is more than just knowledge of legal specialties. It encompasses everything from "The Business of Law®" to client relations skills, and often can be taught by clearly excellent lawyers who take associates under their wing and mentor them to greater success.
However, excellence is teachable only to those newer lawyers who pay attention, who really want to become excellent in their own right, and who have the work ethic required to become successful. In other words, we must first find the person who is willing to pay attention, who is willing to spend the time necessary to learn the skills that define excellence and who does not complain when there are long hours needed to commit to success. People who feel entitled to excellence will never achieve it.

Following the worst economic crisis since the Great
Depression, and facing a sea change in clients' demands
and expectations, law firms must respond and adapt
quickly and effectively. Law firms must choose the kind of
law practice they will be; the marketing and business
development tactics they will use; the overhead that is
critical to their functioning; how to price, bill and collect
for services; and how to manage the cash flow cycle.

Success lies in identifying and capturing the right kinds of
clients, providing the services those clients need in ways
that add value, and ensuring prompt payment and the
ability to grow profits. This book, based on the
experiences of Ed and his clients over 20 years of
coaching and consulting, provides the keys to
successfully thriving in the new era.

Now Available
Special New Release Price: $79
Regular Price: $120
Call or Order Online at:
1-800-837-5880www.lawbiz.com

Personal Commentary

The "circle of life" is a concept I've heard a lot about throughout my
life. To me, that means that you start in the world as a baby with
dependency on others... and you end your life with dependency on
others. But, there is a difference. When you enter the world, you have a
certain DNA pattern that will enable you to grow, learn, develop and
contribute to others. By the time you are on the other side of the
spectrum, you have contributed mightily to the betterment of others in
many ways. Note that I used the word, "spectrum." This infers a straight
line, or at least the absence of a circle.

John Wooden, dead just a scant 4 months before reaching 100 years of age, is a classic example of
having contributed to the well-being of so many people. Life is not
circular. We need not whimper out; we need not abandon ourselves as we
age. We can age gracefully and courageously. That is my hope for all of us.

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What Readers Are Saying...

"No matter how you slice it, there is
no substitute for wisdom and
experience. Ed Poll has
demonstrated both in this eyeopening
book about the essential
elements of running a profitable law
practice. He provides practical
wisdom along with simple ways to
adopt and incorporate best practices
for each. After explaining the pros
and cons of every decision, he makes
recommendations and provides
useful guides disguised as key
principles. Buy the book so you too
can access Ed's wisdom and
experience. It's worth much more
than the investment."
STEWART L. LEVINE. ESQ.,
FOUNDER, RESOLUTIONWORKS
AUTHOR, GETTING TO RESOLUTION;
THE BOOK OF AGREEMENT AND
COLLABORATION 2.0